At some point in most of our lives, we will experience back pain. It happens to all of us. But what many people don’t think about, is that often the inactivity and not staying active is what causes the pain.
It is a frustrating injury or pain and dealing with it can be difficult. You want the pain to go away and you don’t want to get to a point where you are aggravating it more, so you start to wonder if there is something you can do to reduce, eliminate, or even avoid having the same issues throughout life.
That is why we think these tips will help. Why deal with back pain when you can mostly avoid it altogether?
Exercise is one of the best ways to manage and prevent back pain. Regular physical activity strengthens the muscles in your back, which provides more support for your spine. Stretching also helps keep you flexible and can increase your range of motion.
Low-impact activities such as swimming, walking, cycling, and yoga are great options for people with back pain. These exercises help build strength without putting extra strain on the spine or surrounding area.
Strengthening exercises that target specific muscles around the spine – like core or abdominal exercises – can be particularly helpful in providing stability to the entire area. Additionally, exercise can improve posture by correcting muscle imbalances that may be contributing to back pain. Poor posture puts an increased load on the spine and surrounding musculature, so by correcting imbalances and improving posture, pain can be reduced.
Exercise is also important for overall health and well-being, which can reduce stress and help maintain a healthy weight – both of which are beneficial for managing back pain. So if you’re having trouble with back pain, incorporating exercise into your daily routine could make all the difference.
Preventing back pain can help you stay at the top level in your sport, help with staying in the gym, and ultimately allow you to keep up with your daily routines with no back pain. That is why it is better to train the muscles and exercise to strengthen the muscles that will help support the back and keep you happy and healthy.
In this blog, we will talk about the different exercises and areas to focus on to help you avoid back pain.
6 Things You Can Do To Help Avoid Back Pain
Exercising is one of the best ways to prevent back pain and injuries. Here are 6 exercises that you can do to help keep your back healthy:
1. Pilates – Pilates is a great form of exercise for strengthening the core muscles in your body, which helps protect the spine from injury. Pilates also increases flexibility and range of motion, decreasing stress on the joints. It’s important to learn correct technique before getting started with Pilates so be sure to take a class or hire a personal trainer if possible.
2. Yoga – Like Pilates, yoga is great for stretching and strengthening the muscles in your body, including those in your back. There are many different types of yoga poses that can help target different areas of the body, so there is sure to be something for everyone.
3. Swimming – Swimming is a great low-impact exercise that helps to strengthen the muscles in your back and core, as well as many other areas of your body. It’s also very calming and peaceful, making it a perfect activity for anyone who experiences back pain or discomfort.
4. Walking/Jogging – Going for daily walks or jogs is one of the simplest ways to keep your back healthy. This kind of exercise keeps you moving while strengthening muscles in your lower back and core, reducing stress on joints and discs.
5. Weight Training – Weight training uses resistance exercises to strengthen the muscles in your body and can be beneficial for back health. It’s important to make sure you are using proper form when lifting weights, so it’s best to hire a personal trainer if possible. Doing lunges, crunches, and sit-ups will help you strengthen the core muscles, and these are crucial to helping you avoid back issues.
The stronger your core gets, the more support your back has and does not have to do as much of the work.
6. Stretching – Regular stretching is essential for keeping your back healthy and flexible. There are many different stretches that target different areas of the body, making it easy to find one that works best for you.
Exercising regularly is a key factor in maintaining a healthy back and preventing back pain. It can help strengthen core muscles, increase flexibility, and improve posture – all of which are essential elements for avoiding lower back pain. Regular exercise also releases endorphins that can reduce stress and make the body less prone to soreness or stiffness.
Are you experiencing back pain that is keeping from your sports and exercising?
If you are struggling with back pain and want to keep exercising and stay on the field or course as much as possible, but feel that you don’t know where to start, feel free to schedule a free phone consult or contact us to arrange a free back pain injury assessment. You can also feel free to give us a call at 920.335.7227 (We still like to talk on the phone!)
We also have many more videos related to staying active and tips on helping you stay pain-free on our YouTube channel.
You can also check out our BUILD A BETTER BACK ONLINE PROGRAM so that you can move confidently and feel young without medications or surgeries so they can hit PRs in the gym or their sport, overperform at work, and make their golfing fun again.
Don’t let back pain keep you from what you love to do!
We love to keep people in Appleton mobile, active, and off pain pills – let our expertise go to work for you to help you return to the activities you love.
Don’t forget, you can schedule a no-obligation (and free!) phone consult or visit us at our Appleton clinic as part of your free back pain injury assessment. Or just give us a call at 920.335.7227.
Until next time,
Eric Wallace, PT